Autographic register



Aug. 14, 1945. A. w. METZNER 'AUTOGRAPHIG REGISTER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. v 30, 1943 INVENTOR AlBtRTWMfTZ/Vf/i msm m fl- 14, 1945- A. w. METZNER AUTOGFAPHIG REGISTER Filed Aug. 30, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 RNEY Patented Aug. 14, 1945 AU'roGnAPmc REGISTER v Albert W. Metzner, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to The Standard Register Company, Dayton, Ohio, a Y

corporation of Ohio Application. August so, 1943, Serial No. 500,463

14 Claims. (Cl. 2 82--21) I 'torious inherent characteristics, and the mode This invention pertainsto autographic registers utilizing continuous series connected detachable form stationery, and more particularly to strip feeding means therefor adapted to intermittently advance the record strips through successive steps of predetermined extent ,by a push-pull action.

Briefly tated, there is herein contemplated a manually reciprocatory. frame movableto and fro in a substantially horizontal plane above a writing tablet over which succeeding portions of continuous strips of record material are advancedpast the writing-position. The reciprocatory frame positively engages with the record material at the limit of its retractive movement, and upon advancement carries the record material with it throughout its full stroke. At the forward limit of its'stroke the record material is temporarily detained to prevent retrograde move- -ment thereof while the actuating frame is being 'idly returned preparatory to a succeeding operation. The interengagement of the .reciprocatory rrame with the record material and the retention of the latter at the limit of each advance movement thereof, is preferably effected by engagement of pins or studsin correspondingly positionedholes in the 'record material. These holes may be file holes or. binder holes suitably positioned in the record material, or may be holes specially provided in the margins or elsewhere in U the stationery for the particular purpose.

The object of the invention is to improve the construction as well as the means and mode of operation of strip feeding means for continuous record strips, whereby such devices may not only be economically manufactured, but will be more eflicient in use, accurate in operation, uniform in;

'. action, having relatively few parts, and be unlikely to get out of repair.

. 4 A further object of the invention is to provide a strip'feeding device capable of accurately advancing strips of any width measured distances smoothly and evenly without mutilation.

, A further object of the invention is to providea strip feeding apparatus which may-be equally easily and conveniently manipulated by either right or left handed operators withminimum effort,

/ A further object of the invention is to provide a reciprocatory pin type feeding unit for continuous form stationery.

A further object of the invention is to provide anapparatus of the character described, having of operation herein set forth.

With the above primary and other incidental objects in view as will more fully appear'ln the specification, the invention intended to be pro tected by Letters Patent consists of the features of construction, the parts and combinations thereof, and the mode of operation, or their equivalents, as hereinafter described or illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

For illustrative purposes, but without intent unduly limit the application or scope of the invention, it is herein illustrated embodied in an autographic register of'the desk type, 'of which Fig. 1 is a perspective view, showing the reciprocatory feeding frame and the record material to v be advanced, both in the normal or record receivingv position.

Fig. 2 is a fore and aft sectional view on line 2'-2 of Fig. 1. T

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on line 3- 3 of Fi 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view illustrating the feeding engagement of the reciprocatory frame with the record material.

- Fig. 6 is a similar detail perspective .view, showing the advanced portion of record material anchoredjagainst retrograde motion while the actuating frame is shown being returned.

Fig. (.is a detail perspective view of a portion of the actuator slide viewed from the under side.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the assembled anparatus embodying a modification for utilizing file holes at the head of each form for feeding purposes.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view on line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Figs. 10 and 11 are detail plan views showing a method of utilizing the same holes in the record material for both feeding and holding purposes.

Fig. 12 is a detail sectional view on line l2-l2 of Fig. 10.

, Fig. 13 is a perspective view of a packet of conventional marginally punched record material,

. such as is adapted for pin wheel or pin chain feed,

but which is usable in the present apparatus;

Fig. 14 is a plan view of interconnected portions of conventional record forms having termi-' nal file holes with which the present feeding and detent devices are engageable. Fig. 15 is a detail elevational vicwof the means the advantageous structural features, the meri- )55; for deflecting therecord material into detent enbeted margins 3 resting on its side walls.

gagement with the retaining pins at the limitof the feeding movement.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the several views.

In the drawings there is illustrated a desk type of register to be positioned in the top of a desk,

rd material at spaced intervals, due to their counter; table, or the like, and in order that the t register may harmonize in appearance with its supporting structure, it is shown .as constructed of wood. It is to be understood, however, that it may be constructed of metal parts. The structure illustrated may be utilized in a portable register, in which event it will be mounted as the top of a box orcabinet for a supply of stationery to be progressively advanced therefrom over the writing tablet.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, l indicates the desk or counter top, having therein an opening in. in which, the present register device is installed. The assembly includes a base 2 having upstanding rabbeted margins-3, which overhang and'rest upon. the deskor counter top'l. about the margin of the opening la in which the present structure is fitted. In the event that a portable structure is provided, the'assembly over- I lies the box or cabinet thereof with the rab- Disposed upon the base 2 in inwardly spaced relation with the margins 3 is tracker board 4, over which the continuous form stationery. 5 is drawn through a slot S at its rear from a supplycompartment in the desk or counter, or within the cabinet, beneath the assembly.

The rear portion of the tracker board 4 has a sheet I of metal, or preferably glass, inlayed therein to afford a hard surfaced writing tablet, upon which the superposed portions of the record material are inscribed. The'spaced relation of the upstanding rabbeted margins 3 and tracker board 4 affords therebetween parallel channels 8 adjacent the opposite sides of the assembly, in which are stationarilydisposed longitudinally grooved slide bearings or tracks 9. Mounted on the. slide bearings 9 for to and fro reciprocation relative thereto are actuator slides 10, having on their under sides longitudinal tongues H which fit within the grooves l2 of the slide bearings or tracks 9. The top surfaces of the slides are rabbeted with the elevated face thereofflush with the top'plane of'the tracker board 4. In the forward end of each slide I0 is a forwardly inclined pin l3 engageable in a marginally positioned hole in the record material to be advanced. Such hole may be one of a marginally punched conventional strip of series connected detachable form stationery, or may be a hole especially provided. in the record material. The pins 13 are inclined forwardly in the direc- I tion of advancement of the record material. The

pins act somewhat in the manner of ratchet teeth in engaging and advancing the record material as they move in one direction, i. e., forwardly, and easily withdrawn from the engaged transverse rearward bar l6 of the frame ll provides a convenient handle portion to be grasped by the operator while pushing the frame I forward and with it the slides It. During forward movement the pins is are engaged in marginal inclination the pins travel past the holes without engaging therein.

Mounted in laterally offset portions I! of the tracker board 4 beyond the range of travel of the slides I 0, are other forwardly inclined stationary pins l8. As the sliding frame and the forward end of the record material advanced thereby reach the limit of their range of travel, other holes closely adjacent to, the holes engaged by the pins l3 are brought into registry with the 7 pins 13 enter the marginal holes therein. At the limit of forward'movement of the frame and slides, the paperretaining ledges 19 extend slightly beyond the stationary pins l8 and serve the same'purpose of depressing the margins of the record material below the tops of the pins l8, which engage inthe holes thereof to hold the record material in advanced position and prevent its retraction as the frame and slides are drawn rearwardly.

Upon retraction of the slides, the pinsl3 are also retracted from engagement with the record material, which iseasily effected due'to the inclination of the pins, thus leaving the record material securely hooked over the stationary inclined pins l8, which as a result of their inclination and the retractive tendency of the record material maintain their engagement therewith. The advancement of the record material .by movement of the frame I and pin carrying slides 10 carries with them the inscribed portion of the record material and draws a succeeding blank form from the source of supply through the slot 5 into inscribing position onthe writing tablet. The subsequent idle retraction of the actuator frame It and strip feeding slides Ill, leaves the previously inscribed portion of the'record material hooked on the stationary pins l8. Upon return of the actuator frame and strip feeding slides to their normal or retracted position, the previously advanced inscribed portion of the record material maybe manually disengaged from the holding pins l8 and torn oil,- preparatory to the next operation. The actuator frame I4 iseasily detachable from the strip feeding slides, as indicated by dotted lines in Figs. 2, 3 and 4.to facilitate loading and initial placement of the margins of the record material in position for engagement with the pins l3 beneath the overhanging irmer margins of the arms of the actuator frame Id. At the rear end ofthe assembly is a removable stop rail 20 overlying the record material supply slot 5, against which the actuator frame I4 abuts at the limit of its retractive movement. This rail is engaged with the main structure by dowel pins 2| and is also readily removable to facilitate initially threading the record material through the slot 5 from the source of supply to the top of the writing tablet. At its forward limit of travel the sliding actuator frame and strip feeding slides ID are arrested, when a predetermined length of record material has been advanced, by engagefile holes. frame, the half pins I3a, due to their inclination,

record strip to be advanced, and the detent pins are so located that at the limit of the advance movement they engage other holes intermediate those engaged by the pins, 13 and the'terminal edge of the strip, but not necessarily the holes closest to the end of the strip as shown. As an to engage different relatively spaced holes, these pins too may be split andmade to simultaneously engage in the same marginal holeat thefor-- ward limit of travel-of the actuator slide, whereby the strip will be detained by one of the half pins while the other is withdrawn for reengagement with a succeeding record form.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thus provided a device of the charalternate construction, both the feeding pins [3 and the detent pins it may be made to engage in the same holes in either the margins of the recrd material or in the medial body portion there- Such construction is illustrated in Figs. 8, 10, 1 1

and 12, wherein ,the apparatus is illustrated as 'engageable with file holes 23 at the heads of the forms.

The general construction is the same as that before described, except that the slides l0 of the actuator frame are interconnected at their forward ends by a cross bar 24, and the forward portion of the tracker board 4 is cut away at to enable to and fro motion of the cross bar 24 beneath the plane of the record strip. The

cross bar 24 is formed with a medial rectangular notch 26. The end of the tracker board beyond cross bar 24 when the actuator frame is at the. advance limit of its range of movement.

The pins l3a and Na in this instance are halved lonacter described possessing the particular features of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but

which obviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions, detail construction and arrangem'ent of parts without departing from the principle involved or sacrificin g any or its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features, it is vto be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprise the preferred form of several modes'of putting the invention into effect, and the invention is theregitudinally. Each pin is fiat on one side and of convex tapered or conical shape on its opposite half pin 18a, are positioned side by side, they together make a complete conical split pin.

v The half or split pins l3a are carried in spaced relation upon the cross bar 24 of the reciprocatory actuator frame,'and when theframe is re-' tracted they engage in the spaced file holes 23. Being fiat on one side and .convex on their opposite sides, they occupy only one-half of each file hole 23. Preferably, but not necessarily, the half pins l3a are positioned to occupy the outer halves of the respective file holes 23. The .detent pins l8a are of the same shape, but disposedin reverse. relation. The pins I30. being engaged in the file holes serve to advance the record material as the actuator frame is advanced, until at the limit of the range of travel the pins 13a assume positions along side the pins Ma and in registry therewith. The halfpins 13a, and IM- thus conjointly correspond to a complete pin and the half pins l8a engaging in the same file holes 23 with the feeding pins I3 1 completely fill such Upon retraction of the actuator readily withdraw from the file holes 23, leaving the pin halves. |8a securely hooked therein, and from which, due to their inclination, the record strip is not likely to b accidently disengaged.

While such divided pin construction engageable in the same hole inthe record material is illustrated only in relation to file holes 23 in the body of the record form, it is to be understood ,that

' 'thesame feature. may be embodied in the con- .struction illustrated in Figs. 1, 5 and 6, wherein fore claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. An autographic register, including a writing tablet over which a continuous strip of series connected detachable form stationery having therein a series of longitudinally spaced feed 'holes is progressively advanced past a record receiving position, a reciprocatorys'lide, a forwardly inclined feeding pin carried by the reciprocatory slide and engage-able in a hole in the stationery strip upon movement of the slide inone .direction to'advance the strip in unison therewith, and automatically retractable out of the hole in the strip upon retraction of the slide, and a forwardly inclined pin stationarily mounted in the structure engageable in a hole in the stripat the limitof advancement of the latter under -influence of the-reciprocatory slide, over which the strip becomes engaged to prevent retrograde movement of the advanced portion of the strip upon retraction of the slide.

2. A strip feeding apparatus for advancing a continuous strip of material having longitudinally spaced holes therein through successive step by step movements of predetermined extent, in-

being such that upon movement of the carrier in a direction coincident with the inclination of said members, the movable member will engage in a hole in the strip to advance the strip in unison with the carrier, at the limitof which movement" the advanced portion of the strip is engaged with the stationary member to hold the advanced portion of the strip against retrograde movement during retraction of the carrier. 3. An autographic register, including a writing tablet over' which a continuous strip of series connected detachable forms having therein a. series 'of longitudinally spaced cut outs is inter.- mittentlyadvanced past a record receiving po I sition, a reciprocatory actuator subject to manthe pins engage in marginal holes in the record material. Instead of causing the pins i3 and l8 mil push pull operation, an inclined pin on the reciprocatory actuatorhaving thrust engagement in a hole in the strip when moved in the direc tion of inclination of the pin, to effect unison tion, and a stationary support for the other pin,

the stationary pin to prevent retrograde movetablet over which a continuous strip of record material, having longitudinally spaced holes therein, is advanced past a record receiving posi-' tion, a. pair of laterally spaced parallel slides mounted at opposite sides of the writing tablet, forwardly inclined pins carried by the slides and engageable in marginal holes in the strip upon their movement in one direction, and readily retractable from such holes on retraction of the 'slides, detent means engageable with the advanced portion of the strip to prevent retrograde movement thereof, while the slides are being retracted, and a U shaped frame overlying the slides and detachably engageable therewith, and intercoupling the slides for unison reciprocatory movement.

5. A strip feeding apparatus wherein a continuous strip of material having longitudinally spaced configurations is progressively advanced through step by step movement, including a reciprocatory slide member, a traveling forwardly inclined strip engaging member carried thereby, engageable with a configuration of the strip upon forward movement of the slide in one direction, to correspondingly advance the engaged strip, and automatically disengageable therefrom upon retractive movement of the slide, a stationary forwardly inclined strip engaging member relative to which the strip is advanced incident to the forward movement of the slide, and automatically engageable with a configuration of the strip to resist retrograde movement of the strip advanced through a succession of step by step movements, including a pair Of ratchet like members 'engageable with the configurations of the strip, one of the ratchet like members being stationary and by its engagement with the strip preventing retrograde movement thereof, the

strip beingautomatically disengageable there; from b'y 'initial advance movement of the strip,

the other ratchet like member being movable relative to the stationary ratchet like member and engageable with configurations of the strip to advancethe strip relative to the stationary strip engaging member, duringits movement inn forward direction and automatically disengageable therefrom upon retraction of said member, and a reciprocatory carrier for the movable member.

I '1; A strip feeding apparatus wherein a continuous strip of material having therein longitudinally spaced "holes is progressively advanced through" successive step by step movements, including a pair of pins inclined in the direction of travel of the strip engageable in the holes of the strip and movable one relative to the other in alignment with the strip, a traveling carrier ment of the strip upon retraction of the carrier, the movement of which automatically withdraws the inclined feeding pin from engagement with the strip, preparatory to its reengagement therewith for further movement of the strip by which the strip is automatically disengaged from the stationary inclined pin.-

8. A strip feeding apparatus wherein a continuous strip of material having longitudinally spaced configurations is progressively advanced through successive step by step movements, including a stationary support, a reciprocatory slide mounted thereon, a feeding stud carried by the slide automatically engageable with a configuration of the strip to advance the strip in unison with advancement of the slide, upon movement of the latter inone direction and automatically disengageable therefrom upon movement of the slide in the reverse direction, a detent stud carried by the support to prevent retrograde movement of the strip upon retraction of the strip at the limit of each forward step by step movement of strip'and automatically disengageable therefrom upon initiation of each forward step by step movement of the strip, and a deflector automatically deflecting the strip into engagement with said detent stud as the strip reaches the limit of each forward step by step movement.

9. A strip feeding apparatus wherein a continuous strip of material having'longitudinally spaced configurations i progressively advanced --through astep by step movement, including a "Zsplit in; each half of which is engageable with -==aconflguration of the strip, one half the split pin being movable in unison with advancement of the -strip into registry with the other half of the split pin, the'latter half thereof being engage- -ab1e with a configuration of the strip to detain the strip in its advanced position, a traveling carrier for one half of the split pin and a stationary support for the other half of the split pin.

11. A strip feeding apparatus wherein a continuous-strip;"of material having longitudinally .spaced configurations is progressively advanced for the movable pin capable of to and fro mo-fli through a step by step movement, including a pair of pin members each being flat on their adjacent sides and convex on their outer sides, adapted for relative movement of one into and out of registering relation with the other, a reciprocatory slide upon which one of the pin members is carried and a stationary support upon which the other pin member is mounted, the construction and arrangementbeing such that the pin member carried upon the slide is engageable with a configuration of the strip to advance the ther advancement the actuator in the path of advancement thereof strip a predetermined distance and the stationary pin member is engageable with a configuration of the strip at the limit of its advancement to prevent retrograde motion of the strip. 12. A strip feeding appar tus for progressively advancing a continuous strip'of material having longitudinally spaced holes therein through successive step by step movements, including a reciprocatory actuator measured distances, a stationary strip engaging pin located in the path in the direction of advancement of the strip enadvance movement of the strip to prevent retrograde movement thereof and from which the strip is automatically disengageabie by its initiaifurunder influence of the actuator in the direction in which the pin-is inclined.

13. A strip feeding apparatus for progressively advancing a continuous strip of material having longitudinally spaced holes therein'througli successive step by step movements, including a reciprocatory actuator for advancing the strip measured distances, and a feed pin carried by for advancing the strip of the strip and inclined gageable in a hole therein at the limitv of each son with the actuator, to advance the strip,

and inclined in'the direction of advancement of the strip and engageable in a hole in the strip during the movement ofthe actuator in one direction, said pin beingautomatically retractable from said hole in the strip upon retraction of the actuator, and adetentengageable with the strip at the forward limit of its movementpreventing retrograde movement of the strip.

14. A strip feeding apparatus for progressively advancing a continuous strip'of material having longitudinally spaced holes therein through successive step by step movements, including a reciprc catory actuator for advancing the strip measured distances, 9. pair of strip engaging pins located in the path of travel of the strip and both inclined in the direction of advancement thereof and alternately engageable in holes in the strip, one of the pins being movable to and fro in unithe other pin being stationary and effective to retain ,the strip in its advanced position and prevent retraction thereof. ALBERT W. METZNER. 

